BUSINESS BRIEFS
Zippy's to open Kahului restaurant
Advertiser Staff
Zippy's, one of the state's largest locally owned restaurant chains, said it is embarking on Neighbor Island expansion again and will open a Kahului, Maui, location Aug. 18.
The 242-seat restaurant will be open 24 hours a day and features a fast-food counter, dine-in restaurant and Napoleon's Bakery outlet.
Charlene Kim, director of administration for Zippy's owner FCH Enterprises Inc., said the Kahului opening marks a new effort by the company to expand to the Neighbor Islands. Zippy's first Neighbor Island expansion involved the opening of a small drive-in restaurant in Kapa'a, Kaua'i, in the early 1990s. But the restaurant was closed after the island's economy slowed after Hurricane 'Iniki.
"We're venturing out again to the Neighbor Islands," Kim said, noting FCH is searching for another location on Maui. She said the company believes it may have saturated the market on O'ahu where it has 24 locations.
L.A.-BASED FIRM ADVISING CARRIER
Growthink, a Los Angeles-based strategic advisory and investment banking services firm, said it was named an adviser to Safari Air, an on-demand air carrier that plans to start service between Orange County, Calif., and Honolulu and New York, and Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, next year.
Growthink said it will handle business development, growth strategy and marketing initiatives for Safari Air, which plans to commence service next summer using a Gulfstream IV aircraft. Safari plans to offset its carbon emissions by purchasing carbon offsets.
LUXE WORLDWIDE REPRESENTS HOTEL
Luxe Worldwide Hotels said it will exclusively represent Hotel Renew, a luxury boutique hotel in Waikiki.
The 72-room property at 129 Paoakalani Ave., part of the Aqua Hotels & Resorts chain, features the work of designer Jiun Jo.
Hotel Renew bills itself as a "lifestyle offering elegant guest rooms with an intimate atmosphere created in the spirit of wellness, ease and comfort."
Luxe Worldwide provides business services for independent hoteliers, such as reservation services, revenue management and trade show representation.
PHASE 2 OPENS SPOKANE OFFICE
Phase 2 International, a Honolulu-based technology company, said it has opened a Spokane, Wash., office to help expand sales in the Pacific Northwest.
The company in June opened an office in Chicago.
Phase 2, founded in 2002, concentrates on offering software services such as applications for customer relationship management, accounting and human resources to small and medium-sized businesses. But instead of selling the software to companies, Phase 2 hosts the applications on its own computers and allows customers to access the programs as they are needed.
ABERCROMBIE TO SPEAK AT KO OLINA
U.S. Rep Neil Abercrombie will be among the guest speakers at this month's meeting of the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce.
Abercrombie and others will provide an update on Kapolei's economy and various construction projects at the Aug. 14 meeting, set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Ocean Ballroom of the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina
To register, e-mail kapoleichamber@gmail.com or call 523-8802. Cost: $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers, $350 for table of 10. Deadline to register is Aug. 8.
